(Game Preview) Vernon @ Trail:

Vernon (7-4-1-2) @ Trail (8-5-0-1)

(Photo is of Trail Smoke Eaters Celebrating a 3-2 double overtime victory over Vernon back on October 1st)

Tonight is the second meeting of the season & first game of a home and home series between the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers & the Trail Smoke Eaters. This is Vernons second visit to the Cominko Arena this season. The Vipers are on a three game winning streak while unbeaten in their last four games. The Smoke Eaters have lost three straight. You can listen to tonights game live with Todd Miller & Don Klepp on 107.5 Kiss FM starting at 7:15pm.

Last Game Played:

Saturday, October 9th Vernon defeated Westside 6-4
Saturday, October 9th Penticton defeated Trail 4-3 in overtime

Next Game:

Saturday, October 16th Trail @ Vernon

Let's take a look at the Vernon Vipers:

Games Played: 14
Wins: 7
Losses: 4
Ties: 1
Overtime Losses: 2
Home Record: 2-3-1
Road Record: 5-2-0-1
Streak: Unbeaten in four games
Goals For: 44
Goals Against: 37
Standings: Tied with Trail for 3rd place

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon is 38-11-1-0 vs. Trail

Since the 2002-03 season Vernon has outscored Trail 206-119

For more stats & former Vernon Junior Hockey Team rosters & lineups please visit Paul’s Vernon Junior Hockey History website,

http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/index.html

Returning Players:

Bryce Kakoske (90)
David Robinson (90)
Blake Voth (91)
Steve Weinstein (90)
Adam Thompson (90)
Dylan Walchuk (92)
Patrick McGillis (91)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Connor Jones (90)
Mike Collins (90)
Braden Pimm (89)
Cory Kane (90)
Jonathan Milhouse (89)
Kellen Jones (90)
Rob Short (89)
Cole Ikkala (90)
Dan Nycholat (89)
Kevin Kraus (89)
Curtis Gedig (91)
Garrett Noonan (91)
Sahir Gill (92)
Darrin Robak (91)
Graeme Gordon (89)

-Vernon lost in Trail back on October 1st 3-2 in double overtime

-The Vipers unbeaten in their last four games must play a full 60 minutes vs. a tough Trail team

-The Vipers need to stay out of the penalty box, as the Smoke Eaters have one of the leagues best powerplays

-Vernon is 5-2-0-1 away from home

-The Vipers need to jump on a Trail team that has lost three straight

-Getting off to a good start is always key

-Goaltending will be key tonight

-The Vipers who started out the season having troubles scoring, have outscored their opponents 15-9 in their last four games

Let's take a look at the Trail Smoke Eaters:

Games Played: 14
Wins: 8
Losses: 5
Ties: 0
Overtime Losses: 1
Home Record: 4-2
Road Record: 4-4
Streak: Three Game Losing Streak
Goals For: 53
Goals Against: 45
Standings: Tied with Vernon for 3rd place

For more info, stats and great coverage on the Smoke Eaters, please visit Jon’s Trail Smoke Eaters blog, http://smokeeatersblog.com/ Jon is the new play by play man for the Smokies after former play by play man, Shawn Mullin left for the WHL Swift Current Broncos.

Returning Players:

Scott Jacklin (90)
Sam Mellor (92)
Travis St. Denis (92)
Paul Mailey (90)
Steve Koshey (91)
Graeme Strukoff (91)
Curtis Tonello (90)
Ben Matthews (91)
Steve Oursov (91)
Kiefer Smiley (90)

Departing & traded players from last years team:

Nick Sandor (89)
Michael Betz (92)
Darnell Dyck (91)
Matt Wilkins (91)
Wade Bennett (90)
Mitch Kaufmann (91)
Sean Nugent (89)
Tommy Rizzardo (90)
Justin Brown (91)
Eric Walker (93)
Thomas Abenante (90)
Taylor Swaffield (89)
Garrett Beckwith (90)
Graeme Strukoff (91)
Steve Oursov (91)

-Trail has lost three straight, their last win was at home vs. the same Vernon Vipers back on October 1st

-Since knocking off the Vipers, the Smokies have ran into trouble losing three straight, being outscored 19-8

-Before knocking off the Vipers back on October 1st, Trail was 7-3 atop the Interior Division, now the Smoke Eaters are 8-5-0-1 and now sit tied with the Vipers for 3rd place.

-The Smokies lost back to back games last weekend in a home and home with Penticton. In the final game of the series Trail blew a 3-1 lead with four minutes remaining, falling 4-3 in overtime. The Smokies gave up two shorthanded goals in those final four minutes of the hockey game to force overtime.

-Veteran goaltender, Kiefer Smiley is key for the Smoke Eaters this season, and has given the Smokies a chance to win on most nights this season. The Vipers need to try and get to the second year Smoke Eater early and often

-After starting out of the gates on fire, sitting in first place in the Interior Division, have the Smokies dropped back to reality?

-Yesterday the Smoke Eaters surprised the league with a pretty big trade with the Victoria Grizzlies. The Smoke Eaters dealt all-star defenceman Graeme Strukoff to the Victoria Grizzlies in exchange for defenceman Jake Baker, forward Wesley Myron and future considerations. Trail also released 19-year-old forward Steve Oursov. Rumor is Myron is currently refusing to report to Trail. Some off-ice issues caused the Smokies to make some changes, for more on the big trade read the link from the Vernon Morning Star website,

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/vernonmorningstar/sports/vipers/news/104986084.html

Here’s a look at the season series between these two teams:

Friday, October 1st @ Trail: Trail wins 3-2 double overtime

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

Vernon Vipers at 9:46 (SH) - Dylan Walchuk from Trevor Fitzgerald
Trail Smoke Eaters at 13:58 (PP) - Graeme Strukoff from Travis St. Denis and Sam Mellor
Trail Smoke Eaters at 15:22 - Dylan Tappe from Steve Oursov

PERIOD 3

Vernon Vipers at 8:44 - John Knisley from Michael Zalewski and Aaron Hadley

OVERTIME PERIOD 2

Trail Smoke Eaters at 4:39 - Sam Mellor from Graeme Strukoff

Vernon outshot Trail 48-37. Kiefer Smiley made 46 saves for the win, while Blake Voth made 35 saves taking the loss.

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&gameID=840266&link=bchl

Here's a look at both teams rosters:

Vernon:

Dylan Walchuk (7-8-15)
David Robinson (4-7-11)
Bryce Kakoske (6-7-13)
John Knisley (4-6-10)
Kyle Murphy (3-6-9)
Aaron Hadley (2-6-8)
Michael Zalewski (3-5-8)
Marcus Basara (2-4-6)
Steven Weinstein (2-5-7)
Trevor Fitzgerald (4-1-5)
Adam Thompson (2-4-6)
Todd Skirving (1-2-3)
Brett Corkey (0-3-3)
Malcolm Lyles (1-2-3)
Colton Sparrow (0-2-2)
Elliot Richardson (1-2-3)
Darren Nowick (0-2-2)
Patrick McGillis (2-2-4)
Philip Patenaude (0-1-1)
Max Mowat (0-2-2)
Gus Correale (0-0-0)

Bryton Udy (0-2 Record, 4.28 GAA)
Blake Voth (7-4-1 Record, 1 Shutout, 2.26 GAA)

Trail:

Sam Mellor (16-12-28)
Travis St. Denis (13-12-25)
Scott Jacklin (5-19-24)
Rajan Sidhu (0-11-11)
Cullen Bradshaw (5-5-10)
Paul Mailey (2-5-7)
Steve Koshey (0-7-7)
Dylan Tappe (2-3-5)
Adam Boytinck (1-4-5)
Matthew Laboucane (2-2-4)
Wesley Myron (1-3-4)
Jake Baker (0-3-3)
Logan Proulx (1-1-2)
Beau Blanaru (1-1-2)
Curtis Tonello (1-1-2)
Ben Matthews (0-2-2)
Joey Baker (0-1-1)
Eric Walker (0-1-1)
Clayton McEwan (0-1-1)
Brett Slobodzian (0-1-1)
Uriah Machuga (0-0-0)

Kiefer Smiley (6-5 Record, 2.78 GAA)
Matt Larose (2-1 Record, 4.25 GAA)